A guide to Johannesburg with Kyle Watson

Musically trained from a young age, Kyle Watson‘s foundation has helped him forge a path through the Garage Band generation. Not afraid to step out of his comfort zone, his boundless appreciation for music has given Kyle a unique and eclectic sound that has secured him as one of South Africa’s most successful international dance music producers. Some of the biggest players in the world – top charters like Oliver Heldens, Pleasurekraft, Sonny Fodera, Claude Von Stroke, Justin Martin, Shiba San,and more – have been supporting Kyle’s music. It is because of this avid support that his music has been released on high profile record labels such as Heldeep, Dirtybird, This Ain’t Bristol, Atlantic/Big Beat, Universal and Ultra.

Within his home country, Kyle’s music has been playlisted on national radio stations and topped their charts. With official remixes for Rudimental, Justin Martin & Malaa (to name a few) under his belt, his productions show no sign of slowing down. Kyle is well respected within the local industry and his home club Truth in Johannesburg, and has grown his global reach with recent tours across Brazil and Australia. His influences have helped his music evolve into a style of forward thinking house music that combines the grit of bass music with catchy melodies and switched up quirky grooves.

Kyle takes us on a tour through his home city of Johannesburg talking through his favourite places in the city.

First place you go when you’re back from touring?

Woolworths for groceries. Nothing worse than coming back from tour to an empty fridge, so the first thing to do is stock up!

Where serves the best breakfast?

Vovo Telo, they have great coffee and their pulled pork eggs benedict is unmatched!

Where would you go to chill out?

Hennops Hiking Trail. You’ve got to head a little out of Johannesburg for this, but what better way to relax than with a hike around this beautiful place?

Where’s your favourite place to have a quiet drink?

My couch! No, really.

Best place for a first date?

I’ve been married for two years, but I’d say dw eleven-13 wouldn’t be a bad option. Probably some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in South Africa!

The best place to go clubbing?

My home club Truth, of course! Multiple floors with a terrace at the heart of it that features DJ’s from all over, this venue is consistently good on a Saturday night.

Favourite place to go shopping?

Mall Of Africa, it’s massive and has everything you need. It’s not far from us either, so pretty convenient. Great restaurants as well!

What’s a hidden gem in the city?

The Maboneng Precinct. It’s a hub for culture, arts and small businesses. It’s in the city so you can walk around it, and it’s full of great architecture and history.

How would you describe your city’s style?

Eclectic, multi-cultural and diverse. In South Africa alone we have 11 official languages, and because Johannesburg is the main hub of the country it really brings all that together in one place.